I had a great trip down to Kentucky's Cumberland Plateau yesterday partly to
get away from all the smoke haze, breathe easier and see some blue skies again.
I was not disappointed! Highlights included 2 family groups of Brown-headed
Nuthatches at two separate locations both families with fledglings which looked
to be a week or so out of the nest. One family group a newly discovered
location yesterday (although I had checked for them there a few times before)
some four miles outside of London, out in the Laurel County countryside. I have
photos posted on FB. If you look at the photos notice the fledglings have
charcoal gray caps similar to the Pygmy Nuthatch, which shows which of the two
dwarf nuthatch species likely evolved first. Also notice the frosted cap of
the adults, which happens during the breeding season. The photos on FB posted
yesterday are all from the new location. June 8. 2023. I decided to pause
mentioning anything specific about locations as I think when the word gets
leaked out they get stressed out by too many going to check them off for their
big day, yearly, State or monthly list. This has made it very difficult to
track the ones now at the first known location and maybe another as well that I
trusted to give to several authorities who are also avid listers I probably
should not have, as happened at Kentucky Dam. List mania can be very
detrimental to avian sensitive breeding populations. Think first, is it worth
one number higher on a list to make it difficult to save rare birds? This is
why I make no lists or tallies ever anymore. I also no longer trust the USFS on
any of this due to the recent nest season tree removals in a most sensitive
location that I had advised them on. I would not put it past them to scare off
or otherwise help to eliminate any species that might interfere with their
logging or management practices.
Frank Renfrow
Fort Thomas
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